When the U.S. National Team opens its World Cup run today against England, it likely will be the most highly anticipated soccer game it has played. It also begs the question of whether it’s the most important.

In terms of Team USA’s goal of reaching the knockout stage, it won’t be any more vital than Group C games vs. Algeria and Slovenia. But in terms of captivating a jaded public that only supports winners, in terms of being viewed as a soccer power and bidding to host the 2018 and ’22 World Cups, it may be the biggest in U.S. history.

“For the last six months, all we’ve seen is U.S.-England, so if you’re a causal fan at home, you might think this is the final,” said U.S. star midfielder Landon Donovan. “Every time we have an opportunity to play we, have an opportunity to grow the sport. And we realize every four years that’s magnified and multiplied.”

Eight years ago, the U.S. rose to the occasion with a quarterfinal run when young midfielders Donovan and DaMarcus Beasley broke through and supplemented the veteran core. But they flamed out with an 0-2-1 embarrassment four years ago when they weren’t up to the task as leaders.

As seasoned vets, Donovan, Beasley, midfielder Clint Dempsey, center back Oguchi Onyewui and defenseman Carlos Bocanegra sparked last year’s Confederations Cup final run. Now they have to lead and youngsters Michael Bradley, Jozy Altidore — who coach Bob Bradley announced will start — and perhaps Jose Torres must step up and follow.

“I’m prepared for this moment. I wasn’t prepared in 2006,” Donovan said. “When you feel this prepared you don’t worry if it’s going to go well. I know I’m going to play well. It’s how does our team do and what happens in the game.”

“Last year was helpful in that it gives us the belief that we can do something special here. Our job is to focus on the now, but we know that we have the ability to be special. Now the focus is on bringing that out of us every time we play.”

Both mentally and tactically, the athletic, counterattacking U.S. is suited for the role of underdogs, just like in 1950 when it shocked England 1-0 in the biggest upset in soccer history. That — plus having 13 of 23 men on the roster having played in England — has interest in today’s tilt at an all-time high.

“Yes, its unprecedented; because of who we’re playing, because of where the game [is], and frankly because of the promotion on TV,” said U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati. “There’ll be a lot of people watching this game, and it’s one of the opportunities we don’t get very often.

“The national team is symbolic of where the sport is, and in some ways the national team is probably a leading indicator . . . Our national team is definitely the most symbolic [of U.S. soccer’s growth], certainly the most visible, so from that perspective it’s clearly very important.”

Beating England is a daunting and difficult task — but not impossible.

The loss of midfielder Gareth Barry has forced attacker Steven Gerrard into England’s central midfield with Frank Lampard, and the two stars have a history of getting in each other’s way. Michael Bradley and whoever pairs with him — Torres, Maurice Edu or Rico Clark — has to deal with that duo for the U.S. to earn a good result.

Though Onyewu is still trying to regain fitness from surgery on his torn patellar tendon almost eight months ago, England has lost captain and center back Rio Ferdinand to a knee injury of his own. Can the U.S. find enough possession and pace (Robbie Findley?) to threaten England’s central defense? Can their own makeshift defense hold up?

If so, they can get a result that wouldn’t be as shocking as 1950, but perhaps more long lasting.